London – Growing families in the Jewish community have compelled housing bosses to create a new rulebook for loft extensions.
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Residents are being consulted on a design guide for South Tottenham in a bid to keep alterations consistent with the Victorian character of the roads.
The Haringey Council guide holds particular interest for the Jewish orthodox community, who often have as many as six to eight children in a family.
But with many of the two and three-bedroom homes unable to cope with demand, house extensions are inevitable.
Mark Dorfman, the council’s assistant director of planning, regeneration and economy, said: “We want to make sure house extensions look good and are designed well and take into account the community is growing significantly, bringing with it the need to make provision for larger families.”
The aim of the guide is to help the council avoid lengthy planning battles over inappropriate loft extensions that look ugly and out of place.
Jewish Councillor Joe Goldberg (Labour, Seven Sisters) said: “I commend this report for representing innovation and real progress for the Seven Sisters ward.
“I’m particularly proud that N15 represents one of the most ethnically diverse areas in all of Europe.
“This report will help avoid overcrowding; letting residents decide the future of their neighbourhood is a really progressive way forward.”
There are three options proposed in the draft guide for extensions to Victorian terraced homes.
The first allows a flat roof extension on one side of a pitched roof – facing away from the street – to provide an attic room.
The next could see an extension on either side of the sloping roof so that it then becomes an entirely flat roof, matching the floors below.
The third option could see the house raised one floor higher with a pitched roof on top.
A planning panel unanimously agreed to put the guide out to public consultation. If residents support the scheme it will be sent to cabinet for official approval.
Good, we need more Yidden in London to counter all the Arabs that fill it.
This is a great precedent for consideration in other communities which might avoid the inevitable conflicts resulting from orthodox families being forced to conform their efforts to modify, rennovate or expand homes in existing neighborhoods because they decide for religious reasons to have additional children beyond the norm for that style of home. It will mean they cannot build the cheapest addition but rather will have to incur whatever costs are needed so that their additions conform with the architectural and setback requirements of their neighborhoods. This way they can stay in the neighborhood with moving but they will have to comply with local building codes and zoning.
Now you see the difference of attitude that Haringay Council has better then Hackney Council?!
Why don’t they just move to cheaper neighborhood, or start a new frum jewish neighborhood in a cheaper place, rather than continue to try living on top of another in an ever increasing price of real estate???
Now you see the difference of attitude that Haringay Council has better then Hackney Council?!
Well done to Joe Goldberg, Rabbi Biberfeld, Shmuel Yosef Davidsohn and Mordche Grosskopf !!!!!! A great team doing a great deal !!!!!!